Women Working Wonders Fund taps 'Power of the Purse' to help others

Benefits: Women Working Wonders Fund, which assists programs that help women and girls in Greater Lowell

Tickets: $75, includes hors d'oeuvres, live and silent auction of more than 80 purses, cash bar. Available at www.womengreaterlowell.org or at the door.

By Nancye Tuttle

Sun Correspondent

LOWELL -- A purse means a lot to a woman.

It can be dressy, funky, casual or chic. Whether it's a sparkly clutch, a leather handbag or a carefree tote, that purse is the one accessory most women can't live without.

An array of 80 purses from high-end designer labels and handmade bags to vintage finds will be up for grabs at the second annual Power of the Purse cocktail reception and handbag auction on Thursday, Oct. 18, at the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center.

The event is a fundraiser for the Women Working Wonders Fund, a Greater Lowell philanthropic fund founded six years ago by local women to help women and girls in various causes.

"Purses offer something for everyone -- and they're one size fits all," said Jennifer Hanson, co-chair of the event with Amy Werner.

Brenda Costello had attended a similar event run by the Women's Fund at the Essex County Community Foundation and thought it would work well here.

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"I loved the idea and Victor Hugo's quote, 'As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled,' seems to work for us," said Costello, a committee member.

More than 70 women provided initial funding in 2006 for Women Working Wonders, with a matching grant from the Hunt Alternatives Fund, a private family foundation established by Swanee Hunt, the former U.S. ambassador to Austria, and her sister, Helen LaKelly Hunt, daughters of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt.

Today, the endowment is nearing $300,000 and is managed by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, Werner said.

Each year, $5,000 grants are provided to local programs that help women and girls.

This year's recipients include the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association for a program to help struggling Burmese refugee women and girls adjust to the American educational system, gain confidence and develop leadership skills.

Other grants went to Catie's Closet, a program that provides clothing and personal supplies to homeless girls at Lowell High School, three Lowell middle schools and two Hudson, N.H. schools, and to the House of Hope's Hope Chest, a thrift shop selling gently used children's clothing, run by the women at House of Hope to give them work skills and self-esteem.

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas has given an evening bag she purchased on a trip to Cambodia. Susan G. Komen founder Nancy Brinker is donating a bag from India. And there will be a vintage Lucite clutch from the 1950s from 20th Century Limited in Boston.

The evening includes a silent auction and a live auction with bags modeled by WWW Fund members dressed in outfits from Bloomingdale's.

Chris Willis, manager of women's designer clothing at the Chestnut Hill store, will emcee and share the podium with state Rep. Tom Golden as auctioneer.

Various raffles and a $1,000 Bloomingdale's shopping spree will be awarded.

"It's a fun night, something different, and you walk away with something if you get one of the purses. It's become our annual event," Werner said.

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